Bathtub construction with foot well



' Feb. 24, 1970 cs. A. PETERSEN 5 I BATHTUB, CONSTRUCTION WITH FOOT WELL '1 Filed Sept. 5, 1967 INVENTOR- GERALD APETERSEN FIG. 4. v 1 yuwg/w ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fii ce 3,496,579 Patented Feb. 24, 1970 3,496,579 BATHTUB CONSTRUCTION WITH FOOT WELL Gerald A. Petersen, 'Cupertino, Calif. Petersen Engineering Co. Inc., 950 Kifer Road, Sunnyvale, Calif. 95014) Filed Sept. 5, 1967, Ser. No. 665,547 Int. Cl. A47k 3/022 US. Cl. 4-173 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a new and improved bathtub construction which is comfortable and convenient for users of different ages and physical dimensions, and particularly useful for the aged and infirm. An important feature of the invention is the provision of a well or depression in the bottom of the tub spaced from the foot end. By the user placing his feet in the well and sitting on the bottom of the tub adjacent the well, it is much more physically convenient for the user to rise to standing position than in conventional bathtubs. Accordingly, a principal feature and advantage of the invention is the provision of a well which permits the user to stand erect without assistance and reduces the need for attendants or the provision of hand grips, bath-stools and other accessories sometimes provided for similar purposes.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a fiat horizontal ledge on the tub bottom forward and rearward of the well functioning as a seat. Such seat may be used by children when bathed by adults. Further, the seat may be used while bathing the feet in the well.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a rim around the edge of the well to prevent slipping into the well by accident.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a sloping bottom at the head end of the tub to provide a convenient backrest while bathing. Preferably, the backrest is recessed to accommodate the back of the head at the upper end to permit the neck to remain straight while lying in the tub.

A further feature of the invention is the fact that the remote rim of the well may be used as a footrest when users of medium height lie in the head end of the tub.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan of a tub in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of FIG. 1, showing the construction of the bottom of the tub.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view, showing how the tub is comfortably used by children and shorter adults.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing how the well may be used to facilitate standing erect and also showing use of the tub by tall adults.

Tu-b 11, which is the subject of this invention is preferably rectangular in plan having the overall length and Width of a conventional bathtub. It may be cast or pressed in conventional manner and farbricated and enameled by conventional means. Conventional materials of construction may be used. As shown in the accompanying drawings, the end 12 is referred to as the substantially vertical foot end and the end 13 as the head end. Sides 14 are vertical and higher than normal tubs. A rim 16 extends around the foot end 12 and at least the outer side 14, curving inwardly-downwardly. The bating depression in the tub is rectangular at the foot end and sides but is semicircular as indicated by reference numeral 17 at the head end, providing corner ledges 18 on either side at the head end. The side walls 21 slope downwardly-inwardly. Preferably the end wall 22 is vertical and merges into the main horizontal bottom 23, which extends for approximately three-quarters of the length of the tub. Formed in bottom 23 is a well 24, having a horizontal well bottom 26 which is located below the level of bottom 23 and, in fact, coincides with the bottom edges 27 of the tub. A drain hole 28 to a sewer connection may be provided in bottom 26. Vertical sides 29 of the well are spaced inwardly from sides 21 a short distance so that there is a horizontal ledge 31 on either side of well 24. The foot end 32 of well 24 is substantially vertical but there is a rounded corner 33 connecting bottom 23 and end 32, the portion of bottom 23 to the foot end of well 24 providing a seat and the curved surface 33 being comfortable to the back of the users knees. The head end 34 of the well is likewise preferably vertical. To provide room for the toes, front and back recesses 36 and 37 may be formed at the bottom of the foot and head walls 32, 34 of well 24. To prevent the user from slipping into the well, a transverse ridge 38 may be raised across the head end of the well. For- Wardly of ridge 38, a plurality of longitudinal ribs 39 may be formed in bottom 23 to reduce tendency of slippage. The spaces between the ridges 39 permit drainage of water into the well 24.

At the head of the tub the back 41 slants upwardly at about a angle with the horizontal with a broad curve 42 at the juncture of bottom '23 and back 41 to accommodate the curvature of the body of the user when reclining on back 41. At the top of the tub an offset 43 may be formed to accommodate the back of the head of the user and permit the tub to be used without bending the neck, a feature of comfort to the user.

In normal use, the occupant reclines in the tub using the portion 41 as a backrest with the legs extended toward the foot end of the tub. Short and medium size adults, such as the female figure in FIG. 3, may find it convenient to rest the bottom of the feet against the curved surface 33, or the end wall 32 of the well 24. This prevents the occupant from sliding down into the tub and keeps the head above water. When only the feet are to be bathed, the occupant may sit, as does the infant figure in FIG. 3, or may sit on the bottom 23 to the foot end of the well 2.4, with the feet on the bottom of the well 24. Such position is also convenient when adults bathe infants. Use of the tub by full-size adults is shown in the solid line figure of FIG. 4. The legs are extended, the well 24 not interfering and the backrest 41 comfortably supporting the occupant with the back of the head in offset 43, eliminating the necessity of bending the neck forwardly.

A particular advantage of the presence of the well 24 is in stepping out of the tub. With fiat-bottom tubs, it is quite difficult for aged and infirm occupants to pull themselves to upright position and many accidents occur in attempting such movement. Various types of stools have 3 been used, but these have obvious disadvantages. Hand grips require considerable arm strength.

In accordance with the present invention, however, the user first moves from the solid-line position of FIG. 4 to place the bottom of the feet on the bottom 26 of the well and then to move into sitting position, seated upon the bottom 23 of the tub forwardly of Well 24 and, more specifically, upon the ridges 38-. The toes may fit into the recess 36. When the occupant is thus seated with the feet on the bottom 26 of well 24, it is a relatively simple matter to straighten the knees and stand erect to the dotted line position of FIG. 4. Thereupon the occupant can step over the side 21 and on to the floor. The reverse movement for entering the tub may also be efiected.

The precise location of the well 24 depends upon the length of sides 14. Normally the well should be located approximately one-fourth the length of the tub upward from the foot end thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A bathtub construction comprising a substantially rectangular tub having a main bottom, vertical sides, and inner walls, said inner walls being substantially vertical at the foot end and upwardly and outwardly sloping at the head end, said main bottom being flat and horizontal for an extended length forward of said foot end for about three-quarters of the overall length of said tub and formed with a central, depressed well having a well bottom spaced substantially lower than said main bottom to permit the feet and lower portion of the legs of an occupant to depend below the level of the remainder of the body of said occupant, said main-bottom extending on either side of said well bottom, said Well being spaced from said foot end of said tub about one-fourth the length of said tube, said well bottom being about level with the head end is formed near its top edge with an ofiset to accommodate the back of the head of said occupant.

3. A construction according to claim 1 in which said well is formed with substantially vertical sides at the top and at least some of said sides are undercut at the bottom for the toes of said occupant.

4. A construction according to claim 1, in which said main bottom has a substantially horizontal seat portion intermediate said well and said sloping end to permit said occupant to be seated on said seat portion with the feet in said well prior to standing erect, and is formed with an upstanding transverse ridge adjacent said well to prevent said occupant from unintentionally slipping into said well.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 49,657 9/1916 Papp 4173 D. 89,062 1/ 1933 Vanderbilt 4-173 128,755 7/1872 Robb 4-173 1,315,643 9/1919 Schwartz 4-173 1,546,536 7/1925 Black 4-173 1,962,076 6/1934 Jadkowski 4173 2,030,687 2/1936 Davis 4173 2,081,728 5/1937 Bassett 4-l73 2,163,154 6/1939 Radimsky 4173 2,566,495 9/1951 Miyakawa 4--173 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,814 11/ 2 Great Britain. 77,529 10/ 1951 Denmark. 590,981 4/ 1959 Italy.

' LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner D. B. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner 

